LEGO Historian Posted April 16, 2017 (edited) I've missed being on Eurobricks for quite some time now... I haven't been around because I've been working on a secret LEGO project that no longer has to be secret any more... a multi-volume LEGO Encyclopedia of all LEGO sets from day 1... 1949 until 2017. This will be a 6 volume series (450 pages per volume)... the production date will be later this year. Then I will work on 3 additional volumes (350 pages per volume)... LEGO rare or unusual parts (Volume A), Early LEGO toys... wooden and plastic, 1934-60 (Volume B), and a unique book (Volume C) that covers mainly LEGO retailer items, such as display stands, glued display models, and related promotional items... as well as LEGO store displays thru the years. Now that's the good news.... the bad news is that the first country to sell this is China... and it is being translated to simplified Chinese..... LEGO is sizzling hot in China right now, and the publisher (who publishes all LEGO books in the China market) offered a large hard cover book deal. I'm talking to a USA publisher about printing this in English, but that is just in the talking stages right now.... I hope to have it out in English soon, but there are no guarantees. For those of you who have my online version of my LEGO Collectors Guide.... the good news for you folks is that all the info going into this much larger paper (hardcover) guide, will be available to you as free updates (in English ). The publisher wants me to stop selling my online guide (still available, but not for very much longer).... the paper volumes will be much more expensive than the immediate $29.95 online computer desktop version. So I will not be able to offer that one much longer... except as free updates to existing owners.... as the volumes are completed. In fact it's my online guide that is being broken up (and brought forward to 2017) to create the 6 volume set encyclopedia, as well as the 3 additional volumes. Edited April 16, 2017 by LEGO Historian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LEGO Historian Posted April 16, 2017 (edited) Here's how one of the miscellaneous volumes will look like.... what I call Volume A, rare and varied parts thru the ages. This Volume will also have a chapter on Fake LEGO Parts... such as spotting the fake radar dish to the pricey 10179 Milennium Falcon set, and other valuable rare parts. Fake parts and boxes/inserts are becoming a big problem in the LEGO world! Most of the chapters in this volume are from my desktop computer guide. There will be an added chapter on the LEGO marbled and test bricks (Bayer, BASF, Grangemouth, etc). This is "Volume C"... which will have mainly LEGO retailer items, including glued display models... retailer display stands, LEGO stores thru the ages, and retailer catalog images that we never got to see! Those chapters that aren't already in my current computer desktop guide... will get added to that as well. Edited April 16, 2017 by LEGO Historian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LEGO Historian Posted April 17, 2017 (edited) Here's an example of some of my chapters (that will be in the Chinese books, as well as my online computer desktop guide).... LEGO Classic Castle is already in the online guide.... http://www.youblisher.com/p/687306-LEGO-DVD-Chapter-27-CLASSIC-LEGO-CASTLE-1984-90/ And early LEGO Basic Sets (1953-65) has been updated... it is probably the most complex chapter in the guide.... some sets come in as many as 11 different box types.... http://www.youblisher.com/p/1762849-LEGO-Collectors-Guide-Chapter-5/ On a different note..... LEGO sets.... Volume 4 of the guide.... Edited April 17, 2017 by LEGO Historian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlueberryWaffles Posted April 17, 2017 These sound fascinating! I love reading about Lego's past and how things came to be. I'll be sure to try and get some of the volumes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
L@go Posted April 17, 2017 Looks interesting indeed! Just wanted to point out that while Volume 1 goes from 1949 to 72, Volume 2 goes from 1970 to 80. So unless there's a specific reason why 1970, 71 and 72 is apparently covered twice, you might want to fix that if it hasn't already been fixed ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LEGO Historian Posted April 18, 2017 10 hours ago, L@go said: Looks interesting indeed! Just wanted to point out that while Volume 1 goes from 1949 to 72, Volume 2 goes from 1970 to 80. So unless there's a specific reason why 1970, 71 and 72 is apparently covered twice, you might want to fix that if it hasn't already been fixed ;) Yes, the dates didn't match up at first, because in order to balance out each volume to about 450 pages, we had to guess on the preliminary artwork. Volume 1 is actually 1949-67, Volume 2 is 1968-79, Volume 3 is 1980-93, Volume 4 is 1994-2002 and so on.... Here's "Volume B"... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LucyCol Posted April 18, 2017 I shall definitely look forward to an English print edition of this, as an 'old 'un' o much prefer to read from a book than a computer screen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LEGO Historian Posted April 19, 2017 (edited) On 4/18/2017 at 9:06 AM, LucyCol said: I shall definitely look forward to an English print edition of this, as an 'old 'un' o much prefer to read from a book than a computer screen. I can understand your reasoning.... but there's no guarantee that it WILL get printed in English. Logic would have it so... but apparently the really deep pockets publishers appear to be in Asia... I only hope that an English language publisher pickes up the option before the English online version becomes a closed edition.... Edited April 19, 2017 by LEGO Historian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LucyCol Posted April 19, 2017 2 hours ago, LEGO Historian said: I only hope that an English language publisher picks up the option before the English online version becomes a closed edition.... Have you tried 'No Starch Press' They print a few Lego books, and seem to specialise in short run books. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LEGO Historian Posted April 21, 2017 (edited) Yes, I'm familiar with'No Starch Press' I know several LEGO books on building (such as Allan Bedford's book) that are self published. The first country is as I mentioned China that will print my 9 volume series. However they will also promote and advertise my volumes, just like they do other LEGO volumes that they produced for the Chinese market. Here's a little bit of a background about me and the volumes (and online collectors guide)... I've been a builder, a collector, and now historian after 56 years. Edited April 21, 2017 by LEGO Historian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capparezza Posted April 21, 2017 Wusste ja gar nicht, dass du ursprünglich aus Deutschland kommst. Sprichst du noch Deutsch? You've mentioned that your encyclopedia available online will disappear when the books are getting into print production. Any clue when this will happen? I'd love to buy your digital version, but currently I lack the funds to do so. Would be a shame if I'd miss that last opportunity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LEGO Historian Posted April 21, 2017 4 minutes ago, Capparezza said: Wusste ja gar nicht, dass du ursprünglich aus Deutschland kommst. Sprichst du noch Deutsch? You've mentioned that your encyclopedia available online will disappear when the books are getting into print production. Any clue when this will happen? I'd love to buy your digital version, but currently I lack the funds to do so. Would be a shame if I'd miss that last opportunity. Na sicher kann ich noch Deutsch sprechen.... meine Mutter hat Fränisch gesprochen, meine Vater hat Donauschwäbish gesprochen und ich habe Hoch Deutsch in die Schule hier in Amerika gelernt. Da kenne ich noch 3 dialekten! The online version will be around a while longer.... and current owners will get updates with all the information in the 9 volume set... since the online guide is the baseline dcument. I just don't know exactly when I have to stop accepting additional orders of the online guide. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capparezza Posted April 21, 2017 Ok, then I try to buy the online guide as soon as possible. Donauschwäbisch, what the..... Try to exercise that one and thus keep it alive, if possible. It's going to disappear soon, as no one in that area (were Donauschwäbisch originates) is speaking German anymore You could say, that you are a "living relic" then, he he. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brickadier General Posted April 29, 2017 (edited) Hi Gary, This is a great opportunity, and I'm really, really looking forward to the prospect of a hardbound English collector's guide (and I understand you can't guarantee that). You are more than welcome to use anything I have shared online (https://www.flickr.com/photos/29934333@N02/). Whenever I can, I scan stuff to share with BrickSet. Since you have an early toy section, I have two items that were "copycats" (or the other way around) of LEGO's early plastic toys. One of these is a clown keychain with tongue that sticks out when you press a button. The other item is a game of stacking clowns (made by Noma, most famous for Christmas lights). If you think it would help you please let me know. Edited April 29, 2017 by Brickadier General Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vindicare Posted May 3, 2017 Sounds fantastic! Looks great as well. I will definitely keep my eyes out for these. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
